March 2007 Handmade Tile Association Newsletter

Main Section
Commemorative Tile
LEED
Tile workshop by Pooka Ness
Architectural Ceramic Conference
Next Handmade Tile Association Meeting

Side Bar
The 2008 Cover
HGTV looking for artists
Firehouse Studio Opportunity
MN Tile Festival Marketing Committee Meeting
Coverings roommates?

Commemorative Tile
The HTA has selected our commemorative tile artists for the next two years. Blackhawk Studios artists Joel and Ruth McKinney will create the 3rd annual MN Tile Festival Commemorative Tile for 2007. The HTA will pay $300 to the artist plus supplies.  There will be only 50 tiles made which will retail for $25 each. They will have a the tiles ready by early August.
Tiernies Tile artist Nancy Froseth will make the 2008 commemorative Tile. She will have her design created by October, 2007 so we can put it the 2008 directory and make reservations for sales throughout the year.

LEED
Have you ever had that experience of learning a new word and then every time you turn around it is everywhere? If not here is your chance. The acronym LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the code word for Green Building. This is the new buzz concept that is sweeping the building industry and is coming to a tile studio near you. Luckily we have a head start on easy access to information on this subject. Sheila Menzies from the Tile Heritage Foundation has written articles on this subject in the past two HTA directories. In the 2007 directory Shelia maps out how tile artists can get the information they need to start to answer the questions of architects, builders and clients. From what the HTA has learned so far there are no set standards but certain practices are being promoted. One concept is to shop locally to saving all the energy needed to ship material from one side of the country to make a product to ship off to another part of a country. Look through your vendor list and see how many of the purchases you make are local, including office supplies, marketing material, clay and other equipment. Have you ever compared costs between local and long distance purchases? Are there local choices for the products and services you require? Making the effort to find a local vendor can really help the concept of Green Building and will also allow you to tell your customers that you are committed to a more sustainable way of doing business. Click here to read Shelia'a Article "Turning Tiles Green"

How does the HTA stack up on purchasing locally? Of the 37 vendors we have purchased products or services from in the past few years, 35 have come from within the state of MN. The two non-local businesses are a postcard company we used to print the MN Tile Festival postcard a couple of years ago and our directory layout designer Greg Good who was local until he moved down to New Orleans. But since our work with Greg has only been by computer no material was really sent back and forth. Needless to say we have a good record, but there is room for improvement. For one thing were are starting to ask our vendors where they purchase there supplies and see if we can build a bigger network of local purchasing. For more info on Local purchasing power and how money circulates in the community more if you buy from local businesses. Check out an interesting article written recently by MoQ. http://www.mplsobserver.com/node/1210

Tile workshop by Pooka Ness
I am offering a tile class this spring.  You will learn how
to make a deep-relief tile (4x4 or 3x3) and a good working plaster mold of that tile.  Beginners are welcome!

The class date is Saturday April 28th from 9-5. All supplies and a light luncheon are  included.  Cost is $125.  You need only bring a simple design for your tile.  (A simple tile design would have one main image and a background.) Keep your design simple, because we have a lot to cover in one day.

I want you to leave with a working mold of that design, and more importantly, the knowledge of how to make good working molds that produce great tiles.

The class will take place at my friend's studio (Linda Day and Bruce
Dunlap).  They live near Stockholm Wisconsin, about 1 1/2 hours drive from the twin cities.  They have a wonderful spacious studio, and it will be a great place for us to spend the day.

Class is limited to a maximum of 6 participants, and a minimum of 4. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at elkhollow@mwt.net or give me a call  608-627-1284.

Architectural Ceramic Conference
Potters Council is excited to present the upcoming conference ARCHITECTURAL CERAMICS scheduled for April 20-22 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Potters Council has brought together eight presenters who utilize ceramics architecturally, but in many different ways. From terra cotta to porcelain, Tuscany to Montana, inside or outside, and tile murals to birdbaths. The opportunities to step beyond a basic tile and learn from ceramic artists who have first-hand experience on how to design, bid, execute and install your ideas are not to be missed! If you are ready to get off the pedestal and get on the wall or floor, now is your chance! www.potterscouncil.org

Accepting Phone Registration at 1-866-721-3322
Online Registration Coming Soon

Next Handmade Tile Association Meeting
When - March 15th 2007
Time: 6pm
Where - Sharra Frank Studio in the Northrup King Building # 469
1500 Jackson St NE
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413

Agenda
Vote on Board Member
Mn Tile Festival Marketing Committed report
Special Guest: Chuck Woodson. He will talk about workers comp.
Sean Tribity of Blue over Blue: Sean will talk about web sites and how to make your web site more visible.
Talk about Coverings
Talk about workshops and classes at local art centers

The 2008 Cover
We are already looking for the 2008 cover image. As you are traveling around the upper Midwest this Spring and Summer keep your camera handy and send the HTA potential cover candidates.

HGTV looking for artists

HGTV crafting show "That's Clever!".  We travel all over the US to feature different crafters and artists in their own towns and cities.  For our fifth season we are traveling to Minneapolis,Minnesota.

Tom Hebenstreit
Associate Producer
That's Clever!- HGTV
www.myspace.com/
ThatsCleverTV
WELLER/GROSSMAN PRODUCTIONS
5200 LANKERSHIM BLVD SUITE 500, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91601
THATSCLEVER@
WELLERGROSSMAN.COM

Firehouse Studio Opportunity

Woodworker Jason and Brooke Holtz are renovating the old firehouse building in St. Croix Falls and we are looking for anyone interested in sharing the space as
a live/work opportunity for artists.

If you would like to learn more about this project or become involved, please contact Jason Holtz or Brooke at 715-557-0328. You can also reach Jason at jason@jholtz.com.

Registration for the 2007 6th Annual MN Tile Festival click here to get the PDF. It is on legal size paper

MN Tile Festival Marketing Committee Meeting
This committee will meet the afternoon before the main HTA meeting to talk about how to market the MN Tile Festival better. The committee will meet at North Prairie Tileworks March 15, 2007, from 3:30 - 5pm.

Coverings roommates?
Are you planning on going to Coverings this April? Want to cut your hotel cost? If so send the HTA a note and we will pass it on to others who want to do the same.